We Indians are like that only

The Indian's fear of queuing is more than a problem, it's a complete nuisance

We Indians really take pride in the way we behave in public. Yes, I do have a big grouse regarding the behaviour displayed. Because it disturbs others and is an obstacle to manoeuvring easily, besides the fact many think Indians display bad
manners.

The reason I am writing about this issue is because just this week I travelled to Delhi. The atrocious behaviour I witnessed is really alarming. Pushing, shoving and rushing to be the first to reach a ticket counter - whether anyone is standing in the way or not, then running to the bus that transports us to the flight, and the tug-of-war begins.

We have experienced that, till we are compelled to stand in a line, we simply do not believe in queues. One among the several parameters that qualify a town or city to be of international or world-class standard is queues. I really wonder how many Asian countries will top this list.

In India we believe in crowding. Whether it is at an elevator (lift), ticket counter, or taxi and auto stand. We rush to it and those who stand in a queue are left standing!

At bus stops invariably, a queue disappears unless there is a policeman or ticket collector. People simply do not realise that it is bad behaviour to skip queues. It is bad manners and this is the example we are setting for our next generation?

At the airport it's the worst. This week, I saw a lady stop the staff at a counter from issuing a boarding pass to a man who had barged into the queue. Now less about most airline staff, the better: They continue to entertain such male intruders, till women in the queue raise a hue and cry.

The ordeal doesn't end here. The minute we go to the x-ray machines people shove and jostle to place their hand luggage for screening. Thereafter, there's rush to be first in the queue to get to the bus that transports us to the plane and then the rush to get to the plane. Even when the plane lands everyone simply pushes their way down the narrow aisle. Then, even on the transport vehicle, they will throng the entrance. I hate the crowd behaviour on local trains, as I feel people get animalistic, but I think people travelling on our airplanes are no better than those travelling by train.

In the plane too the seat belt indicator is on, yet we break the rules. The minute the plane touches the ground and slows down, one can hear an echo of a mass removal of seat belts, despite the crew announcing us not to do so. But, we are least concerned with the security of one's self and others.

My reactions have changed from getting infuriated to now being amused by these kinds, of people who have absolutely NO regard for their safety or that of their co-passengers. That brings us to the second flouting of the rules. Switching on cell phones in the plane when the darn engines are on. I am sure one does NOT need to be a rocket scientist to figure one thing and that is all aircraft equipment is computerised. That is the reason why they ask people to switch off the cell phones and all other electronic gadgets. However we disregard the announcements made by the diligent cabin crew.

The minute they announce "Apke mobile phones abhi bhi band karke rakhiyege," one can hear 50 SMSes blaring inside the plane. While landing in Mumbai I pulled up the fellow sitting ahead of me, whose cell rang the minute the plane landed. I was compelled to remind him that I really didn't give a hoot about his life, but I love mine and I definitely didn't want it endangered by such a stupid act.

People don't seem to realise that their lives may not be worth much, because they have become mijasi, the arrogance of money, as it is seen. That is a fact, because when someone disrespects and completely disregards another person's life, I don't think there is any other term.

The closest Indians will ever get to being cosmopolitan is what they see in a glass at Bootleggers.
k_neeta@dnaindia.net